Ramona
Ramona is an earth dam located in San Diego County, California, built in 1988. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Ramona
The primary purpose of Ramona is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Ramona Municipal Water District (public utility). It impounds the Green Val Road Cr near Poway.
The dam stands 228 feet tall and stretches 970 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 155 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 12,200 acre-feet. Completed in 1988, the structure is 38 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/10/2025.
At 228 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The California dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | California |
| County | San Diego |
| Nearest City | Poway |
| River/Stream | Green Val Road Cr |
| Coordinates | 33.02490, -116.99770 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 228 ft |
| Dam Height | 228 ft |
| Dam Length | 970 ft |
| Year Completed | 1988 (38 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 12,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 12,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 155 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Ramona Municipal Water District |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/10/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CA01215 |
| Federal ID | CA01215 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |